The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

148 THE COURT OF LONDON cognizance of a tribunal. But how is the complicated affair to end? ”’ | “Perhaps this fair divinity, the goddess of intrigue as well as of beauty,’ said Curzon, with a bow of mock solem- nity toward Venetia, ‘ will condescend to issue her instruc- tions; for it 1s quite clear that her ladyship’s dramatic imagination has contrived this splendid equivoque. Heavens! if it should be lost to the theatrical world, what a misfortune - would it be!’ added the earl, in a tone of bitter irony. Venetia, who had been listening with calm indifference to the observations thus made by the Earl of Curzon, now deemed it time to develop her views. “You both stand in a strange position toward each other, it 1s true,’”’ she said, ‘‘ and you neither appear to understand how there can possibly be an issue from the dilemma. Now, as all the world is already acquainted with the discovery of your intrigue, Horace, with Lady Curzon, it becomes abso- lutely necessary that you should fight a duel with Lord — Curzon. The code of honour, as he has assured me, requires this pleasant little proceeding, or else he would be deemed and proclaimed a coward by all his friends as well as his enemies. A duel, then, there must be. But, on the other hand, how can Lord Curzon possibly seek your life, Horace, for having dishonoured him, when he in the same manner has dishonoured you? And it will not do to tell the world that there is tit for tat in this affair. In the first place, it would not suit the earl even to have the fact made known at all, because he wishes to obtain a divorce from his wiie, which he could not procure if his own conduct were made public. He would be held undeserving of the remedy. Then, in the second place, there is no need to make public the scene which has now occurred, because you, Horace, do not wish to expose your wife, you do not seek a divorce trom her, you have no vindictive feelings to gratify. As tor the Marl of Curzon, he, of course, as a man and as a gentleman, will maintain a profound silence also relative to the scene that has just occurred. Now, therefore, you begin to com- prehend how stands the matter between you, and yet it is most contradictory, most anomalous, most paradoxical. For the world, knowing only of your intrigue, Horace, with Lady Curzon, will, according to the code of honour, look for a duel between yourself and Lord Curzon; whereas you, EORMIE IO KS (e(0)